Match-safe.



. E. A. BOLEN.

MATCH SAFE. APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 18, 1908. 928,023. Patented July 13,1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

.DmMux/L 6 aw E. A. BOLEN.

'MATGH SAFE.

.APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 18, 1908.

Patented July 13, 1909- 3 SHBETS-SHEET 3.

mnazw. H. 012mm 00.. FNO'VO-LITIIOGMPHERS. WASNIHGYD UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

EMERSON A. BOLEN, OF MARION, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,'OFONE- HALF TO FRANK D. BROSIER, OF MARION, INDIANA.

MATCH-SAFE To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMERSON A. BOLEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Marion, county of Grant, and State of Indiana, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Match-Safes, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The invention relates to such lIIIPIOVG- ments and consists of the novelconstruction and combination of parts hereinafter de scribed andsubsequently claimed.

Reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, and the referencecharacters marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.Similar characters refer to similar parts in the several figurestherein.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a top plan view of my improved match safe. Fig. 2 is a. horizontal cross-section of the same taken on the brokenline 2-2 in Fig. 4. Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-section of the sametaken on the broken line 33 in Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a vertical section ofthe same taken on the broken line 4-4 in Fig. 1 showing thematch-lifting slides in lowered position. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectionof the same taken on the broken line, 55, in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 4 with the matchlifting slides elevated. Fig. 7 is aview similar to Fig. 5 taken on the broken line 7--7 in Fig. 6.

The principal object of the invention is to deliver matches intoposition for removal one-by-one from a match safe, and to automaticallyignite the match as the same is withdrawn from the safe.

Other objects will appear in connection with the following description.

In the preferred form of my invention the match safe is combined with acigar-cutter whereby the operation of the cigar-cutter automaticallydelivers a match into position to be removed from the safe and to beignited during such removal.

Referring to the drawings wherein the invention is shown in preferredform, 1, represents a box or safe adapted to receivehorizontally-disposed matches, 2, which are supported upon the inclinedbottom, 3, of the safe. WVhen the movable parts of the device are intheir normal position of disuse, the body of horizontally-disposedmatches rests in the angle formed by the bottom, 3, and a. stationaryci'ossplate, 4, adjacent to the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 18, 1908.

Patented July 13, 1909.

Serial No. 411,421.

lower end of the inclined bottom 3. Adjacent to the cross-plate, 4, thebottom, 3, is provided with an aperture, 5, adapted to receive onemember, 6, of a pair of slides, the other member, 7, of which occupiesthe space between the cross-plate, 4, and the rear wall, 8, of the safe.The upper end of the slide, 6, and the upper end of the crossplate, 4,are each inclined similarly to the bottom, 3, of the safe, while theupper end of the slide, 7, is slightly concaved to form amatch-receiving groove.

When the movable parts are in their normal position of disuse, thelowermost match, 2, in the safe will rest upon the inclined end of theslide, 6, in the angle formed thereby with the inner side of thecross-plate, 4, as shown in Fig. 4. When the slides, 6 and 7, are raisedin the operation of the device, the lowermost match, 2 will be carriedupward by the slide, 6, above the highest point of the crossplate, 4,whereupon it will roll down the inclines on the ends of the slide, 6,and cross-plate, 4, and rest against the inner side of the elevatedslide, 7, in the position of the match, 2*, as shown in Fig. 6. As thelowermost match, 2*, is carried upward by the slide, (3, the othermatches being left unsupported fall back into the safe. hen the slides,6 and 7, are restored to their lowermost position, the upper end of theslide, 7, will be brought to a plane just below that of the bottom ofthe incline on, the cross-plate, 4, permitting the last previouslyraised match to roll down into the seat on the upper end of said slide,7, in the position of the match, 2, in Fig. 4.

The slide, 6, and cross-plate, 4, are preferably of a length equal tothe length of the match, while the slide, 7, is of a length somewhatless than that of the match, and the matches are so arranged in the safethat the head-portion of a match resting in the seat on the upper end ofthe slide, 7, will overhang and project beyond said slide, 7, inposition to be engaged by the stop, 9, located in the path of thehead-portion of the match as the same is carried upward by the slide, 7,by engagement with which stop the match is tipped, as indicated bydotted lines, 2 in Fig. 5, and turned from a horizontal position to avertical position, as that occupied by the match, 2 as shown in Figs. 6and 7, in which position it is supported between the inner vertical edgeof the slide, 7, and the stop, 9, both of which are grooved to receivethe match.

The stop, 9,..Eis mounted upon the upper end of a plate-spring, 10,whereby it is made yielding; and the strength of the spring, 10, issuflicient to cause the slide, 7, to be frictionally held in its raisedposition so long as the match remains between the vertical grooved edgeof the slide, 7, and the stop 9.

As the match is tipped into vertical position it is brought into linewith the delivery aperture, 17, in the top of the safe, and as theraising of the slide, 7, is completed, the end of the match is forcedout through said delivery aperture into position to be grasped by thefingers of the operator and forcibly removed from the safe.

Any known means for lighting the match may be employed.

()ne of the objects of my invention is to cause the automatic ignitionof a match by its withdrawal from the safe, and, if matches are employedthe entire heads of which are adapted to be ignited by friction, thisobj ect may be accomplished by locating in the path of the head of thematch, as the same is withdrawn from the safe, an abrasive body whichmay be of any known form. In the preferred form of my invention I haveshown a device adapted to automatically ignite what are known in thetrade as safety matches or birds eye matches, the tip portions only ofthe heads of which are adapted to be ignited by friction. For thispurpose I have shown adj ustably mounted upon the stop, 9, a needle, 11,inserted through an aperture in said stop with its point projectingslightly beyond the grooved face of the stop at the upper end thereof.As the match is drawn upwardly between the slide, 7, and the stop, 9,just as the head of the match leaves the stop, 9, the force of thespring, 10, will cause the stop to move inwardly carrying the point ofthe needle, 11, across the end of the match, thus igniting the same. Theneedle, 11, is secured in adjusted position by means of the set-screw12. The inward movement of the spring, 10, is limited by a stop 18.

For certain purposes of the invention the slides, 6 and 7, can be raisedand lowered in any known manner. I have shown said slides projectingupwardly from a common support or block, 14, located in the path of themovable member, 15, of a known form of cigar-cutter, a detaileddescription of which is unnecessary for the purpose of the presentinvention, for which purpose it is only necessary to understand that thelever, 15, is so connected with the cigar-cutting mechanism, 16, thatthe operation of the cigar-cutter causes the inner end of said lever,15, to be raised and brought into engagement with the block, 14, wherebythe slides, 6 and 7, are raised. For this purpose any movable member ofa cigar-cutter may be employed.

In Fig. 4 the cigar-cutter is shown in its position of disuse, while inFig. 6 it is shown in the position which it assumes in use.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In adevice of the class described, the combination with a vertically-movablemember provided on its upper end with a seat for part of a matchhorizontally disposed,

and on a neighboring vertical edge with a seat for the remainder of thematch vertically-disposed; of means whereby matches are automaticallydelivered one at a time to said movable member with a part of the matchoccupying said horizontal seat and the remainder of the matchoverhanging said vertical seat; means for moving said movable member; astop yieldingly movable transversely of the path of the overhangingportion of said match, said stop being cooperative with said verticalseat to support a match in vertical position therein; adjustable meansfor limiting the movement of said stop toward said member and africtional match-igniter mounted upon said stop in the path of the headof a match being withdrawn from said vertical seat.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a pair ofmembers adapted to embrace between them a match; yielding means formoving one of said members transversely of the match toward the other;of means for delivering matches, one at a time, between said members,and an igniting pin on said movable member, adapted to be carriedthereby transversely of the match into engagement with the tip of thehead of the match being withdrawn from between said members.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with avertically-movable member provided on its upper end with a seat for partof a match horizontally-disposed, and on a neighboring vertical edgewith a seat for the remainder of the match verticallydisposed; of meanswhereby matches are automatically delivered one at atime to said movablemember with a part of the match occupying said horizontal seat and theremainder of the match overhanging said vertical seat; means for movingsaid movable member; a stop in the path of the overhanging portion ofsaid match, said stop having on the side neighboring said movable membera grooved seat for a vertically-disposed match; means for yieldinglyforcing said stop toward the match-supporting vertical edge of saidmovable member; and an upwardly-pointing match-igniting pin mounted uponsaid stop and adapted to traverse the tip of the head of a match as thesame is withdrawn from said vertical seat.

l. In a device of the class described, the tip of the head of a matchbeing withdrawn combination with a pair of cooperating memfrom betweensaid members. 10 bers adapted to receive therebetween the In testimonywhereof, I have hereunto set head-portion of a match; of means for myhand this 10th day of January, 1908.

5 yieldingly forcing one of said members EMERSON A. BOLEN.

toward the other transversely of the path of lVitnesses: the match and aremovable pln earned by WILLARD B. GEMMILL, sald movable member adaptedto traverse the CONRAD MORRIS.

